all tied up…

I again asked The Lady Rose if she had any requests. She said she wanted something new and different. In an avocation as old as this one, and with as many of my knots as she has seen, I had to think hard. What I came up with was this, the same old Turk’s Head knots, but with a new treatment. If you look at the border between the black Turk’s Head on the bottom of the bottle and the white Turk’s Head just above it, you will see my idea in action. The two knots encroach into each other, but in a very regular and even fashion. This makes for an alternating wave interface that is – to me – brand new.

The usual knot inventory starts here:

The white knot at the top is a 5 Lead X 6 Bight Turk’s Head knot, doubled.

The knot covering the shoulders of the bottle is a Gaucho knot of 2 passes, 17 Leads X 6 Bights.

Below that is a bi-color Turk’s Head knot of 4 Lead X 11 Bights, doubled with 1 white and 1 black paracord.

The featured knots on this piece are a pair of 7 Lead X 6 Bight Turk’s Head knots. They were tied so that they encroach – or interlace – their edge bights. This makes for a very unusual cresting wave look. The only problem is now I’ll have to do more of these Teufel Knoten.

I would even more than usual like to know what you think about these knots. Have you ever seen the like before, or is it new to you also?

Vertical down looking view of a bi-color drink coaster made from a Pineapple knot.

I used to make drink coasters out of 1/4″ cotton sash cord. Because of the decline in use of double hung windows and their sash weights, sash cord is now uncommon, and thus expensive. In trying to make a proper drink coaster out of paracord, I have made many weak and floppy knots. The ones I made by working the tightened knot into a U shape were tight and strong, but the decrease in diameter was a problem. The other day I was tying knots as I watched TV. When I inverted the Pineapple knot I had made, it worked and worked well. The interweave meant that the knot was not only doubly thick but that the cords filled up the interstices in each knot. When I worked it down to a coaster shape it made a firm, thick platter. If I were going to do it again to make a coaster for general use, I would start off with a Turk’s Head having more leads, whick would increase the diameter to about 4″, a fair size for most coasters. You could also dress this up greatly by putting in another interweave similar to those in most heel knots. The multi-colored and tight weave would be both bold and attractive. The only caution I would offer is to make the original knot either looser than normal, or maybe in a funnel shape. Trying to invert this knot offered more challenge than most Turk’s Head knots for the same reasons it makes a better coaster: it is double thickness and the gaps are pre-filled before you even start.

I would like to hear from you if you try this coaster idea; the more information shared the better. Thank you for visiting my site, come back again:
William

I live with someone who is willing to accept my obsession with knots. As an attempt to at least meet her halfway I try to make things she would like to see around the house. I asked The Lady Rose if there were anything she might like that I had not made or hadn’t made lately. She said she would like to see if I could make something in a lizard skin pattern. What could I do but try after I had solicited the idea? This is that try at lizard skin.

Starting from the top, the knots are:

A 3 Lead X 14 Bight Turk’s Head knot tied in gutted black paracord.

An 8 Lead X 7 Bight Turk’s Head knot, doubled.

A 5 Lead X 14 Bight Turk’s Head knot of green paracord. This also carries the short length of Solomon’s Bar square knotted sinnet. The white core strands of the sinnet then surface and are tied in a Chinese Button knot, doubled. The ends are trimmed in a random length tassel of sorts.

The top knot on the body of the bottle is a Gaucho knot.

The featured knot on this bottle is the requested reptile patterned knot. This is a 17 Lead X 16 Bight Turk’s Head knot of two colors of paracord. The broken color pattern was as close as I could come to lizard skin on the first shot, The Lady Rose is happy … so I am happy.

The bottom knot is another Gaucho knot.

I would appreciate knowing what you think of the reptile look knot, and of anything else on the site as well. Thoughtful critique or raving praise are equally accepted. Thanks for your time and effort:
William

And now for another completely different knot. This stem of roses was made as a hat decoration so my Lady Rose could compete in an annual best hat for the Run for the Roses party. Her horse didn’t win the Kentucky Derby that day, but her hat did, by popular acclaim.

By my self-assigned rules, when I make something like this I can’t use aids. No glue / wire / inserts or props of any kind. The cord and the parts of the cord are the only things allowed. I figure I may as well make it as fun and educational as I can.

And now ladies and gentlemen, with no mirrors, no smoke, and nothing up my arms, I present the fabled Roses Of The Orient. The roses are made from Turk’s Head knots. They start in the center with knots having few leads or bights. Each knot cups all the preceding knots and is slightly larger because of the slowly increasing count of leads and bights. The last Turk’s head was done in green to act as the sepal of the blossom that cups each rose from below. The yellow pollen also acts as a center tie down for the inner knots. The yellow twine pollen in the large bloom is still down in there somewhere, but the knots loosened with motion and jarring. The stem is made from the bundled tails that come off each leaf stalk and the center connector from the flowers. The leaves are made from plaits of various sizes and types depending on what I needed to make it look right. Most ended up being 6 or 8 strand braids, starting from the tip of the leaf and ending in a thinned-down bundle. The stem ended up larger than life, but artful posing on the hat hid most of it behind flowers and foliage. I also braided a hat band to act as an anchor but it seems to have gone walk-about since the party. The complete ensemble also had a bracelet made of some small leaves and another blossom tied onto a braided band with a loop and button closure. A Turk’s Head button served the purpose well. It is evidently holding hands with the hat band on their journey of mutual discovery. The other competitors told her she couldn’t wear it or any close approximation to future parties as it would stifle competition. Vox Populi.

Well folks tell me what you think of this one. It sure is different from the rest of my stuff. In your opinion is it better / worse / or just different? I would like to know what you think, but I do appreciate it even if you just visit and never comment. If you want more pictures of the rose, let me know. Until next time:
William

The next piece from the near-endless collection of medicine bottles which have been covered with knots. This one is about 3″ tall and 1 1/4″ in diameter. The Turk’s Head is tied over another Turk’s Head, as most of my mouses are made this way. I need the mouse anyway, and this allows me to practice new knots or tying methods without too much concern about final appearance. The knot that shows on this bottle is a 9 Lead X 8 Bight Turk’s Head tied with tripled strands. This seems to be seen only on knots tied by people who learned to knot around boat people. I have been told this is because leather braiders are dealing with a material that doesn’t lie well when more than one strand is used. Double strands of leather seem to be difficult and triples nigh on impossible.

I have been trying to get some pictures of my newer work that are good enough to post. My karma worked out so that I got these just in time for the 4th. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed making them.

One of the good things about repeatedly tying knots on hot sauce bottles is the consistent shape. One of the bad things about tying knots on hot sauce bottle is the consistent shape. You do get used to how to size the knots and learn which ones don’t work. You also run the peril of tying the same knots to the point of monotony. Not fun for me to tie, nor fun for you to look at. This bottle was a conscious attempt to get out of the rut.

Starting from the top the knots used are:

The neck is covered with a green paracord Turk’s Head knot of 9 Leads X 4 Bights, doubled. Dark colored because this bottle is in use and may be subject to drips.

The shoulders were left bare to set off the next knot. The mouse is a Turk’s Head knot because they make a very strong base that won’t slip on the slick glass. The covering knot is a 7 Lead X 13 Bight Turk’s Head knot, doubled. The combination makes a knot that stands out about 3/4 inches from the glass.

Just below this knot is a 3 strand grommet to carry the button knot.

The green knot in the center of the body is a Gaucho knot of 4 passes. This was tied with straight edges instead of the normal scalloping. It is a smooth and elegant looking knot, and was intended to be the center of attention. It was overshadowed by the knot above it, but has not complained out loud so far.

The bottom knot is a 9 Lead X 8 Bight Turk’s Head knot, doubled.

This was a fun bottle to make; I hope you enjoy it also. Thanks, and come back soon:
William

My third post was of an 8 strand braid with doubled strands used as a hat band. It made for a bold graphic look, and was well received. The only problem was, it was too bold and too casual for some occasions. I needed a more subdued and slightly dressier hat band. This is what came of that need. It is a 3 Lead X 26 Bight Turk’s Head knot. The ends are hidden under the knot as usual. Some of the folks who have seen this hat band are a little confused by this. They think it is a normal three part braid like they’ve seen their whole lives. It is amusing to watch them keep turning the hat round, and round, and round, looking for the ends they can never find.

I could use some advise. This hat band serves its function well, but it is too casual for some events. How can I make a knotted / plaited hat band that is dressy enough to wear at the high-toned events I go to on the odd occasion? It would have to be black or nearly match the color of the hat. But what knot or braid would be sedate and dressy enough? Let me know your ideas via comments. It would be greatly appreciated.